Life-boat.



F. C. WALTER.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED 1014522. 1915 Patented May 30, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET1- WITNESSES:

F. c. WALTER.

LIFE BOAT. APPLICATION mso JUNE 22. 915.

l 1 85,56 1 Patented May 30, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES: Y

A TTORNEYS Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH co, WASHINGTON, n. c.

FERDINAND C. WHLTER,

Brhamwwg,v v

F. C. WALTER.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1915.

Patented May 30,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A TTOR/VEYS FERDINHND C.WHLTER,

WI T/VE SSE S:

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THE COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH 120.. WASHINGTON, I). c.

FERDINAND CARL WALTER, 0F WINTI-IROP HARBOR, ILLINOIS.

LIFE-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed June 22, 1915. Serial No. 35,561.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND G. WAL

'rnn, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Winthrop Harbor, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto an improvement in boats and more particularly to an improvement in life boats. l 7

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improved life boat having means whereby it may very readily and quickly be covered so as to render the boat wave and storm proof.

Another object of the invention is. to provide a life boat having a plurality of shield sections which may be raised for completely covering the boat, in order to protect passen-.

gers from storm and from the waves.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism whereby.

the boat may be manually driven without the use of oars.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved life boat of ,the'class described which Will be extremely simple, durable, efiicient in operation sive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement .o'f parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a life boa-t constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 represents an end elevational view thereof. Fig. 4: represents avertical transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicatedby the line 44 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 represents a similar view taken-on the plane indicated bytheline 5-5 of Fig".

1 looking in the direction indicated by thearrows. Fig. 6 represents a side elevational view of the transmission mechanism for the paddle wheels. Fig. 7 represents adetailv transverse sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8

and inexpen mentary vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 10- -10 of Fig. 2. In carrying out .my invention I provide a boat having a hull 5' formed of suitable sheet metal, the boat being providedwith a flush deck 6. A coaming 7 formed of suitable angle iron extends around the inner edge of deck 6. The deck at its inner edge along the sides of the boat is connected by the longitudinal partitions or bulheads 8 with the bottom of the hull 5, whereby spaces are defined in which air tanks 9 are inserted on opposite sides of the boat. The ends of the boat are provided with transverse bulkheads 10 in which air chambers 11 are inserted.

At spaced points along the lengthof the boat, are provided the shield plate guides 12. These guides are pivoted at their ends to the coaming as at 13., The guides are arcuate in form and when the boat is not in use, are swung downwardly to lie in substantially horizontal positions. As shown in Fig. 7, each guide comprises a length of T-iron 14 to the base flange of which a metallic strip 15 is secured, by means of rivets or other fastenings 16, the said strip 15 being spaced from the T-iron by means of a spacer strip 17. In this manner, a channel or guideway 18 is provided oneach side of the T-ir'on.

I may if desired employ channel iron in the to force the pin outwardly so that when the guide attains vertical position, pin 19 in coming opposite an opening 23 provided in the coaming will, by action of saidspring, be projected into the opening so as to maintain theguide in upright position. 1

longitudinally of the boat.

The guides 12 are adapted to act as guideways for a plurality of shield plates 24. These plates are arranged in equal numbers on opposite sides of the boat and are curved to such a degree as to conform to the curvature of guides 12. The plates are each of a length equal to the distance between two adjacent guides. As indicated in Fig. 5 the plates normally lie along the sides of the boat against the partitions or bulk heads 3, being maintained in place by the lower guides which are disposed immediately below guides 12 and in such position that when the latter are raised the guides 25 will be in alinement with them. As indicated the bulk heads 8 are preferably curved or concaved to conform to the curvature of plates 24 and similarly guides 25 are also curved. Normally the plates 24 are in lowcred position and the guides 12 are folded down in horizontal position, but when the boat is to be used said guides are raised into vertical position, and are braced in position by means of the spring actuated pins 19, and also by a tie-rod 26 which engages the T-irons at right angles thereto and extends It is provided as indicated in Fig. 9 at its ends with angles 27 which abut against the vertical flange .of the end guides 12. The angles 27 and the end braces 12 are provided with regis tering openings through which pins 28 may be passed for securing the tie-rod in position, said pins adapted to have wedges 29 inserted through openings therein within theangle 27 so as to secure the parts in position. The wedges may be connected by means of flexible elements 30 to the tie-rod 26 so as to prevent their loss. The guides 12 and the tie-rod having been secured in position, plates 24 are then raised out of the guides 25 and are shifted upwardly within guides 12 until they gain theposition indicated in Fig. 4. Plates 24 are provided with suitable handles 65 by means of which they may readily be raised. These handles may be positioned nearthe ends of the plates so as to rest against the upper ends of guides 25 when the plates are lowered, to limit the downward movement of said plates. 7

The plates 24 may be maintained in raised position by any suitable means, for instance, by having spring latches 31 provided on guides 12 and adapted to becngaged and hooked under the lower edges of the plates 24 when the latter are raised. The ends of the covering or shield are in the form of a pair of frames indicated generally at 32,

which are hinged to the deck or to the ends,

of the coamings whereby they may be raised from a normal horizontal position when the shield is open, upwardly through the dotted line position indicated in Fig. l into vertical planes so as to completely close the casing or covering. The frames are shown in front elevation in Fig. 3, and it will be noted that they carry doors 33 which may have heavy glass panes, the doors being adapted to swing outwardly when desired so as to allow means of ingress-and egress ,to the occupants of the boat. Port holes indicated at 34 are also provided in the frame. As indicated in Fig. 9, the frames each carry a spring latch 35 adapted to engage the end guideways 12 for maintaining the frames in raised position. In order to brace the end frames in vertical position, each of them has a brace 66 in the form of a T-iron or channel iron hingedly connected at one end to the end frame by means of hinges 67. The ends of the brace are bent angularly with respect to the body portion thereof as shown, and the outer end of the brace is adapted as indicated in Fig. 10, to be engaged in a cleat 68 secured to the deck of the boat. This cleat is provided with a springaotuated pin 69 which engages through an opening in the outer end of the brace in the manner shown. lVhen the frames are to be folded down, the pins 69 are raised manually and the braces withdrawn from beneath the cleats, and are then folded back over the end frame, so that the latter may lie flat on the deck. These braces serve to strengthen the boatcovering, and to rigidly maintain it in place against the battering and pounding of the waves.

The bottom of the hull amidships and on each side of the medial line is provided with openings at 36. These openings are bridged by the casings 'or housings 37 which are formed of a suitable metal and are connected in a suitable manner to the bottom of the hull so as to form water-tight joints. The casings form tunnels on each side of the medial line of the boat for the reception of the paddle wheels 38. The latter are fast upon a shaft 39 which extends transversely of the boatand is journaled in the boxings 40 carried by the casings or tunnels 37. Upon the shaft 39 is keyed a cog wheel 41. A countershaft42 is journaled in parallel relation to shaft 39 in. the adjacent walls of the two casings, and on this shaft is keyed a pinion 43 which meshes with cog wheel 41. A smaller pinion 44 is also keyed on shaft 42 in spaced relation to pinion 43, and meshing with this smaller pinion is a larger gear wheel 45. The latter is journaled in a bracket 46 secured in any suitable manner to the keel 47. A bar 48 is pivoted at 49 to gear wheel near the periphery of the latter, and at its opposite end is pivoted at 50 to a hand lever 51. The latter is pivotally connected at 52 to a bracket 53 secured upon the keel 47 A second hand lever 54 is pivoted to a bracket 55 like-wise secured to keel 47 at the opposite end of the tunnels from the end at which lever 51 is disposed. To this lever 54 is pivotally connected one end of a link 56, the opposite end of which is pivoted to a crank arm 57 secured to a stub shaft on which gear 45 is carried.

The crank arm 57 extends at right angles to the radius in which the pivot point 49 lies, so that as the hand levers are worked back and forth by the occupants of the boat, in driving the paddle wheels 38, the danger of dead centering the transmission will be eliminated. The ratio of the various gears in the train is such that the paddle Wheels will be driven at, a greater rate of speed than gear 45 is driven, so that by operating the latter at a moderate rate the boat will be propelled at a good pace. It will be noted that the tunnels are inclosed on their opposite sides, so that there will be no danger of drifting ice or debris becoming engaged with the paddle wheels.

Arranged at suitable points within the boat is a plurality of seats 58 for the accommodation of the passengers. Suitable receptacles may be disposed beneath the seats or at other desirable points as indicated at 59 for the reception of foodstuffs and water. The seats may be carried by standards 60 secured to the bottom of the hull. A rudder 61 is hung at one end of the boat, and may be operated from within the latter by means of suitable flexible elements 62.

Such a boat as I have provided may be constructed entirely of metal, unless it be deemed advisable to have the flooring and seats made of wood. quickly and readily raised into place and the end frames raised for entirely closing the boat to protect itspassengers from rain or wind, and to protect the boat from waves which might break over the same. The natural heat of the passengers will serve to maintain the temperature at a desirable degree, even in the coldest weather, ventilation being had through the ports 34 or through the doors 33 by partially opening. the latter if desired. Such a boat will be extremely staunch and seaworthy, and through the medium of the propelling mechanism I have provided, may be op erated without the use of cars and from within the boat, and without danger of having the operating mechanism broken or disabled by contact with floating cakes of ice or other obstacles. By providing the cooperating attaching means between the guides and the shield plates and the end walls or closure, the boat maybe put in position to withstand the severest storms in an extremely short time and by any persons of ordinary intelligence without particular knowledge of its construction.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction,

The shield is very combination, and arrangement of parts thereof, as do not depart from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. An open boat having a plurality of curved guides pivotally connected at spaced intervals thereto and adapted to be raised into vertical position, means for maintaining said guides in vertical position, a plurality of curved plates normally disposed within the boat below the decks thereof, lower guideways in which said plates are slidably maintained, first said guides when raised being in alinement with said lower guides, means for raising said plates upwardly within the first said guides, means for maintaining said plates in raised position, a closure hingedly connected to the boat near each end and adapted to be raised into vertical position and into engagement with the end guides, means for maintaining said closures in raised position, braces pivotally connected to the end guides and adapted to be detachably connected with the boat, doors'provided in said end closures, ports also provided in said end closures, and means for propelling said boat by hand from within the same.

2. An open boat having a plurality of guides hingedly connected to'said boat and adapted to be raised into vertical position, a plurality of cover plates slidably disposed within the boat and adapted to be raised within said guides to form a covering for the boat, means for maintaining said plates in raised position, closures hingedly connected to the boat near the ends of the covering and adapted to be raised into position for closing the ends of the covering, means for maintaining said closures in closed position, means for bracing the closures in closed position, and doorways provided in the end closures.

3. The combination with an open boat, of a plurality of guide ways hingedly connected thereto and adapted to be moved into vertical position, a plurality of plates normally housed within the boat and adapted to be raised within the guideways for forming a covering, a tie-rod adapted to be engaged with said guideways for bracing them, means for securing said tie-rod in place, means for securing said plates in place, closures adapted to be disposed at the ends of the covering for closing the same, said closures being provided with doorways therein and means for maintaining the closures in position.

4. The combination with an open boat, of a plurality of guideways movable into supporting and non-supporting positions, a plurality of cover plates adapted to be moved into engagement with the guideways for forming a cover for the boat, closure means for closing the ends of the cover, and means for supporting the guideways, the cover plates and closure means in position.

5. An open boat having a plurality of spaced curved guides movable into supporting and non-supporting positions, means for maintaining the guides in supporting posi tion, a tie rod adapted to be positioned for engaging the guides when the latter are in supporting position, means whereby the tie rod may be detachably connected With cer tain of the guides for retaining it in position, a plurality of cover plates movable into the guides when the latter are in supporting aosition for formin a cover for the boat means for supporting the plates in cover forming position, end closures having ventilating and observation meansand movable into position for closing the ends of the cover, and means for supporting the end closures in position for closing the ends of the cover.

6. The combination with an open boat, of a plurality of guide-Ways movable into supporting and non-supporting positions, a plurality of cover plates adapted to be moved into the guideways when the latter are in supporting position for forming a cover for the boat, and latches carried by the guideways for supporting the cover plates in cover forming position.

7. The combination with an open boat, of a plurality of guides formed in the sides thereof, a plurality of cover plates slidably received by the guides, a plurality of guide- Ways movable into position for alining with the guides whereby the plates may be moved from said guides into the guide-Ways for forming a cover for the boat.

8. The combination with an open boat, of a sectional cover movable into position for covering the boat, said cover including end closures hingedly connected with the boat, means for maintaining and bracing the end closures in position for closing the ends of the cover, said means including braces connected with the closures, cleats supported by the boat adapted to be engaged by the braces, and means for detachably connecting the braces to the cleats.

9. An open boat having a plurality of guideways hingedly connected thereto, means whereby the guideways may be supported in raised position, a plurality of cover plates adapted to be moved into the guide-ways for forming a cover for the boat, means for closing the ends of the cover, means for supporting the cover plates in cover forming position, and means within the boat whereby it may be propelled by hand.

FERDINAND CARL WALTER. Witnesses EMMA l/VALTER, ARTHUR WALTER, FREDERICK BALE.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

